Problem - The interaction between ground water and surface water within the Meads Creek watershed is not well understood, and the need for understanding the interaction has increased in recent years because of widespread concerns related to water supply, ground- and surface-water contamination, loss of wetlands due to development; and other changes in the watershed. In addition, flooding in the southern part of the watershed (mostly in Steuben County), where most development in the watershed has taken place, has highlighted the need for information about the drainage characteristics in the basin including the role of ground-water and surface-water interactions.
Objectives - The objectives are (1) characterize the geohydrologic characteristics of the watershed that affect runoff to Meads Creek, (2) determine base flow in Meads Creek and selected tributaries, (3) determine ground-water/surface-water interactions, (4) characterize the valley-fill aquifer, including aquifer geometry, aquifer thickness, direction of ground-water movement and (5) potentially develop a ground-water management tool (numerical ground-water flow model)
Benefits - This study will provide the Towns of Orange (Schuyler County), and Campbell and Hornby (Steuben County);and various County and State Agencies with information to understand surface-water and ground-water connections that may contribute to flooding in the downstream areas, and provide information to the towns and county to aid in development of a “Comprehensive Water-Management Strategy”. Additionally, the ground-water data obtained from this study will provide water managers, businesses, and homeowners with information on the Meads Creek unconsolidated aquifer system. The information will also be able to be used for the possible future development of a ground-water-flow model of the unconsolidated aquifer.
Project
Location by County
Schuyler County, NY, Steuben County, NY
